Apparatus for applying a tubular fabric cover to rolls



Aug 26, 147. 7 MACK 2,426,401

. APPARATUS FOR APPLYINGA TUBULAR FABRIC COVER T0 ROLLS Filed Aug. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l I5 0 INVENTOR. 16 yamzam N. A. MACK Aug. 26, 1947.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A TUBULAR FABRIC COVER TO ROLLS s Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENTOR. 11707772010 62M BY Aug. 26, 1947.

N. A. MACK APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A TUBULAR FABRIC COVER TO ROLLS Filed Aug. 18, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIHIIIIIII'HIH.

INVENTORI. m'mn/ 9.1742010, J.

*satisfactoryfo'rd abutting margi draw-cord stitche *the roller. The matter of renewing outer'jackets Patented Aug. 26, 1947 2,426,401 "APPARATUSLFQR' APPLYiNG A"{'itiiiiiLAR FABRIC COVER 'ro ROLLS "Norman A. Mack, Riverside, 2111., assignor to Roberts 1 & Port ration 'of' Illinois er, Inc.,

Chicago, 111., a corpo- 'Application August is, miafshaimli$111339 (cr mp-:1)

8 Claims. :1 I

This invention *rela-t sto new and useful imp rovements'in outer jackets for'moistening and inking rollers of lithographic printing machines and also to apparatus 'for applyin suchjackets, 'in tubularformjtosuch rollers. I The g neral" practice *which has been extensively used'in'jacketing rollers" of the character above referred to, consistsin sewing around the roller a piece of 'relat'ivelyr'esilient, comparatively thick"'fabric 1 material having liquid absorbent "characteristics. One of the fabric materials whichhas been extensively u'sed is termed Molleton, the thickness of which is in excess f inch and which in* generalhas been found'very istributing liquid evenly and uniplate. 'The jacketing material is he roller along the longitudinal nal edgesther eof, and eachof'the nd portions of :the material has a d to" the marginal "edges I there- Of,"by?oVer'-'hand' stitching so' that the cords'may be drawni taut'ito formithe overhanging portions "of 'the' 3'acket snugly"around-the 1 end portions of the roller 'and in surrounding relationto the pro- 'jecting' shaft po'rti'o'nsof t ti ie'cor'ds are then tiedfirmly together. I

Such coverings are removed "from the 1 rollers, after theyi'arersoiled by ink and 'moisteningfluid, by severing"the stitching and scrapin themoff formly over the 'sewed' around t overhanging: e

of such rollers is extremely time consumingjand it usually requires three to four hours to sewa "fresh jacket or covering on'to a' roller sewerage :length.

Rollers 'for lithographing range 'from' 2 inches to 3% inches in diameter and 'fr0m"10 /2 inc'hesto 7 9 in'chesinle'n'gth. Such rollers usually includea central core cr sh'aft' of metalsurrounded by a body of resilient material, 'such as rubber. The 'rubberbody' is usually covered by one or more intermediate layers of suitable :resi-lient"material su ch-as flannel, knitted tvool or "cottonfand around Which-the outer covering or Jacket"of absorbent material is stitched.

I am aware of one proposed'pra'cti'ce forefiectinga saving-oi time in applying outer jacket cov- "erings 'for such rollers'and 'WhiChi is'disclosedin the 'Morris Patent-"N0. 1,760j370-"datd3May 27, 1x930.

TheMorris patent discloses an arrangement wherein-"theroller-includes an enlarged bodypor- 'tion fo'rmedi as an integral part of the metal'core or-shaft, i and aroun'd' vvhich inaybe quickly and easily telesco'ped's an "assembly;- in' i tubulanfor'in,

machines' 'generally he roller. The ends of '55 minutes time.

2 "are two coverings "of resilientfabricandaround which an outer jacket or coveringissewed. -Whi1e as Morrispatent does disclose an arrangement "magmas asaving of time in the replacement of jackets on the rollers, approximately the same amount of time is required iilf'StitChiIlg such jackets-aroundthe replaceable tubular assembly, prior to mounting tubular jacket assembly on the roller. *Henceit'hetime required in the Morris arrangement "is notfacltually saved, but is --aansrrred*ri-m the machine operator to a person making up the tubular assembly. Moreover, Morris "construct-ion and arrangement is such thattheref vvill not be' a firm anchorage of the ou'terbovering with respect to the body of the roller, which is considered important for obtaining uniform distribution of the 'fiuid over the :plates. In the f-Morris arrangement the outer jacket is mere'ly sevvedlongitudinally around the built up body composed of'the'fiber tubular core and two layers'of intermediate'covering. No arfrangement is disclosedwhereinthe outer jacket is ianchor'edf at opposite ends 'so that the covering remains stretched tautly lengthwiseof the roller to insure against the possibility of bulging 'or unevenness of surface contour. Furthermore-forming the body of the roller-"of metal, as proposed inthef-Morris patentfin o'rderto conveniently ac- .commodateithe fib assembly, result 1 -a loss' ofthe advantage of having a resilieht -iri-ater'ial constituting the 'main "body of the'roll'er. V v

r A further d saavacta'ge'or the'arrangement'sug- "ges'ted'lnthe -Morrispat'ent is that each time the outefjac'ket or cover is to be'renewed it is necessary that the entire tubular covering assembly be J discarded. 'Ifhis practice-isextremely costly because'in such renewal operation not only is there I the attendant cost -oif replacing the outer liquid absorbing iacl i'et' materialfbut thereis also the additional case of two or moreintermediate coverings o f 'resilient'material such as wool, aswell -as the'cpst of thepa'per'or fiber core.

one of theobjects= of this invention is to pro- "vide an-"im'proved' tubular outer jacket and novel apparatus for applying s'aid jacket to rollers of I lithogriaip'hingmachines in a'manner so asto result ina saving "or several'hours time as comparedfto present' hay"conventional methods of -'proa1iemg and appmng outer jackets to such ll r Another obj ect is to' provide anovel apparatus "for applyingia preformed tubularouter jackettor rsu'erstr lithOgra" rtubirlar core of the jacket hprinting machinesin a few and efiicient in operation, and capable A further object is to provide novel apparatus for quickly and easily applying a preformed tubular outer jacket to a roller of a lithograph printing machine and wherein said apparatus may be quickly and easily adjusted for performing a jacketing operation on rollers of various lengths.

Still another object is to provide novel apparatus for mechanically jacketing a roller of a lithograph printing machine and wherein said apparatus is relatively simple in construction, durable of being economically manufactured.

A still further object is to provide a novel, preformed tubular outer jacket for rollers of lithograph printing machines having means at one end thereof for quickly and easily constricting the end portion of the tubular jacket to form a transverse shoulder for snugly fitting against the end portion of the roller in surrounding relation to the metallic projecting end portions of the core or shaft of the roller.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the novel apparatus and the novel form of tubular jacket embodying the present invention, with a roller shown positioned preparatory to insertion into the apparatus for performing a jacketing operation thereon;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 and showing the roller and the apparatus in a position at which the roller has been telescoped within the tubular jacket;

Figure 3 is a face view of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the apparatus taken substantially as indicated at line ii on Figure 1; V

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the upper portion of the mandrel and supporting bracket, taken substantially as indicated at line 5-5 on Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the jack mechanism, taken substantially as indicated at line 6-3 on Figure 3;

Figure '7 is an enlarged face view of the upper portion of the apparatus, taken substantially as indicated at line 1-1 on Figure 2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one end portion of the tubular outer jacket embodying the present invention;

4 able material, such as flannel and/or knitted wool or cotton. The projecting end portions [6, of the core of the roller are of suitable lengths for mounting in bearings of the machine.

The tubular jacket is of a length as to provide overhanging end portions when it surrounds the roller and at least one end portion as seen in Figure 8 of the drawings, is provided with a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced apart metallie eyelets 18, through which is threaded a suitable cord of drawstring E9. The eyelets serve to firmly grip the fabric between shoulders thereof and provide a strong, durable fastening on which substantial strain may be imposed without tearing the fabric. The eyelets may be provided in the end portion of the jacket either prior to the forming of the material as a tube, or after it is so formed. When the roller is to be re-covered with a new tubular outer jacket 13, desirably the draw string 19 is drawn together to form a transverse stop shoulder as indicated at ill in Figure 1 of the drawings, against which the end of the roller body is adapted to abut, as will hereinafter be described. By using the eyeletting and draw cord arrangement, I have found that it saves approximately one hours time which would be Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of a modified arrangement of the apparatus embodying the present invention; and

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view through the modified apparatus, taken substantially as indicated at line Iii-40 on Figure 9.

'When it is necessary to renew soiled outer jackets of rollers of lithograph printing machines said outer jackets are cut off of the roller in a customary manner such as by means of a knife. The jacket lo, which is to constitute the outer cover for a roller, indicated at ll, is preformed as a tube, and when made up of materials such as Molleton the abutting marginal longitudinal edges thereof. are stitched together, preferably on a sewing machine, as indicated at it and the tubular jacket is internally dimensioned so as to insure. a relatively snug fit on said roller H.

The roller is of usual construction, including a central metallic core l2, surrounded by a body of resilient material M, such as rubber, the latter being encased in one or more coverings [5, of suitrequired insewing the end of the jacket in the manner heretofore practiced.

The apparatus for applying a new tubular outer jacket to the roller I, as shown in the drawings, comprises a mounting'base 2 l, to which is rigidly secured at the upper end thereof, a bracket 22. Removably mounted on the lower portion of the base 2 I, in alignment with the bracket 22, is a second bracket 23, having a horizontally extending shelf 2d, and connecting side flanges 25, adapted to fit against the edges of the base 2|. The rear edges of the flanges 25, are each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced apart bayonet slots 21, adapted to cooperate with a pair of adjacent headed studs 29, of .a series of studs projecting laterally from the edges of the base member 2 I. By virtue of this arrangement the bracket 23, may be adjusted vertically on the base member 2|, so as to readily accommodate, between the brackets 22 and 23, rollers of various lengths.

Rigidly attached to the outer portion of the bracket 22, and extending downwardly in parallel relation to the base 2|, is a guide bar 32, the end portion, opposite its fixed connection to the bracket ,22, being mounted for slidable guidance and support in a bearing boss 33, formed on the outer end of the bracket 23. Said guide bar is of generally V-shaped cross section, and the trough portion of the V is provided with a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced apart teeth 35, with which cooperate alternately actuated, looking and feeding dogs 36 and 37 of a conventional jack mechanism indicated generally at 40. The dogs are normally yieldingly urged downward by a spring 50, controlled by a. lever 69*, having a spring abutment 43. When the spring pressure is released by movement of lever 4t the dog 31 may be raised by the finger piece 40 so that the jack may be freely moved along the guide bar 32. The jack mechanism may be of any suitable form and as shown includes a hand operating lever M, which is pivoted at 42 to the housing and pivoted at 3% and3'l to the dogs 36 and 31, so that upon reciprocation of the lever, the entire jack mechanism is caused to be fed forcibly along the guide bar 32. The jack mechanism includes a body portion 43 mounted in sliding guidance with the under surface of the V-shaped guide bar 33 and is. provided with a laterally projecting foot mandrel being internally dimensioned for Although I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise forms herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for mechanically jacketing a roller of a lithograph printing machine with a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, comprising a hollow mandrel dimensioned internally for snugly receiving telescopically a roller to be jacketed, and dimensioned externally for a snug fit thereon of the major portion of the length of a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, means for supporting the mandrel, and means for forcibly moving the roller through the mandrel and stripping the sleeve off the mandrel and simultaneously causing the sleeve to embrace and surround the roller.

2. Apparatus for mechanically jacketing a roller of a lithograph printing machine with a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, comprising a hollow, split mandrel dimensioned internally for snugly receiving telescopically a roller to be jacketed, and dimensioned externally for a snug fit thereon of the major portion of the length of a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, means for supporting the mandrel totally at one end, and means for forcibly moving the roller through the mandrel and stripping the sleeve off the mandrel and simultaneously causing the sleeve to embrace and surround the roller.

3. In combination, a hollow mandrel having a supporting head and a longitudinally split body providing two yieldable elongated fingers, said sn ly receiving telescopically a roller to be jacketed, and dimensioned externally for a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, means cooperating with said head for totally supporting said mandrel, and means for forcibly moving. a roller through the supported end of the mandrel and causing the sleeve to be stripped off the mandrel and deposited in a snug embracing relation on said roller. l

4. In combination, a hollow mandrel having a supporting head and a bifurcated, longitudinally extending body, said mandrel being internally dimensioned for snugly receiving telescopically a roller to be jacketed, and dimensioned externally for a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, means cooperating with said head for totally supporting said mandrel, and means adapted to engage one end of the roller for forcibly moving it through the supported end of the mandrel and causing the sleeve to be stripped off the mandrel and deposited in a snug embracing relation on said roller.

5. In combination with a roller of a lithograph printing machine and a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric; a base, a stationary bracket mounted on the base, a second bracket mounted on the base, said brackets being aligned and spaced apart to freely accommodate said roller lengthwise therebetween, a fixed guide bar interconnecting said brackets, a'hollow mandrel having a head and an elongated resilient body mounted on and totally supported at one end by said head on said second bracket, said mandrel being internally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit with said roller to be jacketed, andexternally dimensioned for. a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of said tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, and means mountedon and movable along the guide bar, and having a member for engaging one end of said roller'for forcibly moving it through the mandrel and thereby stripping the sleeve off the mandrel and depositing it in a snug embracing relation on said roller.

6. In combination with a roller of a lithograph printing machine and a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric; a base, a stationary bracket mounted on the base, a second bracket mounted on'the base, said second bracket and base having cooperating features for releasably anchoring said bracket to the base at a plurality of positions of adjustment toward and away from the stationary bracket for freely accommodating a roller of predetermined length therebetween, a fixed guide bar interconnecting said brackets, a hollow mandrel having a head and an elongated resilient body removably mounted on and totally supported at one end by said head on said second bracket, said mandrel being internally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit with said roller to be jacketed, and externally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of said tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, and means mounted on and movable along the guide bar, and having a member for engaging one end of said roller for forcibly moving it through the mandrel and thereby stripping the sleeve off the mandrel and depositing it in a snug embracing relation on said roller.

7. In combination with a roller of a lithograph printing machine and a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric; a base, a stationary bracket mounted on the base, a second bracket mounted on the base, said brackets being aligned-and spaced apart to freely accommodate said roller lengthwise therebetween, a fixed guide bar interconnecting said brackets, a hollow mandrel having a head and an elongated resilient body mounted on and totally supported at one end by said head on said second bracket, said mandrel being internally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit with said roller to be jacketed, and externally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of said tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric, and means mounted on and movable along the guide bar, and having a member for engaging one end of said roller for forcibly moving it through the mandrel, the free unsupported end of said sleeve being restricted to form an abutment shoulder adapted to be engaged by the leading end of the roller as it moves through the mandrel, whereby said sleeve is caused to be stripped off the mandrel and deposited in snug embracing relation on said roller. 3

8. Incombination with a roller of a lithograph printing machine and a tubular sleeve of absorbent fabric; a base, a stationary bracket mounted on the base, a second bracket mounted r on the base in aligned, spaced apart relation to the first bracket, a fixed guide bar interconnecting said brackets, amandrel having a head and an elongated hollow resilient body connected to said head at one end, said mandrel being removably mounted on said second bracket with said body extending through an aperture in the bracket, and the head and bracket having interengaging features for releasably connecting said head to the bracket for supporting the body in central relation to the aperture, said mandrel being internally 9 dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit with said roller, and externally dimensioned for a snug telescopic fit thereon of the major portion of the length of said tubular sleeve, and means mounted on and movable along the guide bar and having a member for engaging one end of said roller for forcibly moving said roller through the mandrel and thereby stripping the sleeve olT the mandrel and depositing it in a snug embracing relation on said roller.

NORMAN A. MACK.

The following references are of record in the 5 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,324,738 Goedike Dec. 9, 1919 1,110,397 Martini Sept. 15, 1914 637,579 Hett Nov. 21, 1899 1,277,743 Munn Sept. 3, 1918- 

